West Essex District Honors Businesses; Presents Updates on District Goals – TAPinto.net
NORTH CALDWELL, NJ — In keeping with the district goal of greater community engagement, West Essex Superintendent of Schools Barbara Longo and members of the board of education recognized businesses that have partnered with the special services department and provide job opportunities to classified students in the district’s 18-to 21-year-old program.
During Monday’s board of education meeting, Tania Symmons, director of special services, and Gabriella Bauer, transition coordinator, presented awards to three businesses that provide onsite work experiences for students.
Up until two years ago, students who had completed their academic requirements but required life skills and job coaching were deferred to programs in neighboring districts. Thanks the expanded program, West Essex students can now remain in their home district to do so.
Of the 14 businesses who have partnerships with the district and have hired the special needs students, Caremark/CVS, the district’s food service company, and Shag 86, a hair salon in Little Falls, were honored on Monday.
“It starts with little jobs and then confidence is built,” said Bauer. “We thank the amazing businesses that took a chance on our students.”
According to Bauer, many of the students have procured employment with the businesses after their internships and have become “part of the team and not just on the sidelines.” The companies provide opportunities for the “students to be as successful as possible and it has been an incredible experience,” she added.
In other news, Gregory Aschoff, supervisor of the West Essex mathematics and business departments, introduced computer science teacher Vincent Carchietta, was accompanied by four students at Monday’s meeting. Leigha Capra, Miles Feldstein, Ryan Hinchcliffe and Noah Rombough presented their independent study projects.
“These students have reached above and beyond the computer science curriculum, each in a unique way,” said Carchietta. “Miles, Leigha and Noah are focusing on developing applications to help students. Ryan is researching a dynamic field of Computational Intelligence. This is an excellent opportunity to use their skills from class to expand into self-guided research, applications and data analysis.”
Longo informed the public that district supervisors are in the process of presenting all departments’ progress toward district goals and objectives.
Aschoffm who is in his first year in the position, reported that the high school’s Math Honor Society now has 43 members, and reflected that students achieved the highest SAT scores in West Essex history last year. He stated that 87 percent of the student body who took the AP scores had scored a three or better; 25 students who were enrolled in the PARCC remediation program passed the exam; and more than 70 percent of the Algebra 1 PARCC students earned a passing score.
Aschoff also announced the launch of a new course entitled “Principles and Contemporary Issues in Sports Management,” which will be taught by Andrea Mondadori-Llauget.
Additionally, the district recently played host to the First Annual Middle School Round Table Meeting that included Verona, South Orange/Maplewood, Livingston and Cedar Grove school districts. Staff members Dean Ratajczak and Kathy Morrissey are piloting the Microsoft Surface Tablets for use in classrooms beginning in September.
Stacy Casais, Supervisor of English, Reading and Librarian staff, reported that department goals that align with the district goals include: adding more student choice at the high school level; continuing senior course options with possible new proposals for the 2019-2020 school year; continuing the Reading Across the Curriculum initiative; and continuing to utilize data to drive instruction and identify at-risk students.
Casais noted that data reviewed included the PARCC, SAT/PSAT and MAP scores in addition to marking period grades reviewing semester and midterm grading patterns.
“Test scores come in after the fact; as far as usability, there is other data that is much more effective,” she said, adding that the expansion of choices for student reading is paramount, and specifically broadening the “relatability and diversity options for students was key.”
Casais reported that a new initiative was greatly received by the students in the form of a high school and middle school collaboration where Shakespeare was discussed amongst other authors. Plans for next year include a new course entitled “Songwriters.” Partnering with the Fairfield Public Library for after school activities, such the recent West Essex Comic Con, has been a huge success, she said.
Ryan Gupta, Director of Curriculum, reported increases in SAT scores, noting that the average SAT score in reading was 591, increasing significantly since the 2013 average of 507. Math scores averaged at 584, which is 81 points above the state average, Gupta explained.
“We are thrilled with the AP and SAT scores and consider the PARCC scores to be a blip on the screen,” he said.
President Cynthia Egan acknowledged “with deepest regret, but with 32 years of fondest memories of dedicated service,” the resignation letter of resignation for retirement purposes from Lenore White as a child study team member, effective July 1, 2019.
The board also accepted a donation of approximately $8,410 from the West Essex Education Foundation to be used for purchasing supplies for Spanish, physical science, English 7 and English 7 support classes in the middle school. Monies will also be used to purchase supplies to benefit all departments in the middle school, world language, computer science classes and the guidance department in the high school as well. Approximately $200 was also accepted from Chipotle to be used for the West Essex High School Band program.
During committee reports, board member Anthony Rubinich updated the board about his attendance along with board vice president Anthony Prinzo and member Judith Amorim Dias’ at a New Jersey School Boards Association county meeting that discussed school funding and the challenges of increasing health and pension costs. The members stated that they found the round table discussions to be extremely beneficial and informative.
The next meeting will be held on Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m.